Why a Chimney Inspection Matters in Central Mississippi

One thing we know is that chimney fires can happen anywhere at any time when they are in use. In the South, we often find people thinking that “lack of use” means “everything’s okay” and that’s just bad thinking. When conducting chimney inspections, we find animals that have taken up residence in the flue with nests built on the smoke shelf, in the smoke chamber or blocking the flue entirely. We’ve also found leaves and debris in the chimney that can easily catch on fire if not removed before that first use every year.

If you need more proof that it’s important to get your chimney inspected, then check out these statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for 2015.

“U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,331,500 fires. These fires resulted in 3,120 civilian fire fatalities, 17,720 civilian fire injuries and an estimated $11,593,000,000 in direct property loss. There was a civilian fire death every 169 minutes and a civilian fire injury every 30 minutes in 2010. Home fires caused 2,640, or 85%, of the civilian fire deaths. Fires accounted for five percent of the 28,205,000 total calls. Eight percent of the calls were false alarms; sixty-six percent of the calls were for aid such as EMS.”

3 Main Causes of Home Fires

Chimney fires, electrical fires and dryer fires are the main causes of home fires in the United States. Chimneys that are clean and inspected by a certified chimney company do not catch on fire.

We consistently stress to our customers to please be informed! Above is a chimney inspection video put out by the Chimney Safety Institute of America that walks you through the process of the 3 levels of inspections. Each level is dependent on the condition of the chimney and fireplace and that can only be determined by a certified technician.

This is just one reason to make sure the tech that comes to your home is certified to inspect, clean or repair your chimney system. He or she will have proof of certification and you should always ask to see it. All the techs at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service have CSIA certification which is considered the best in the industry.

Do You Need to Clean a Gas Fireplace?

All combustible appliances, no matter what they burn–wood, gas, oil or coal–have a chimney to vent toxic gases out of your home. Having a working carbon monoxide detector in your house to alarm and warn you if this toxic gas exceeds the allowable limit in your home is extremely important, especially if you have gas appliances. No matter what you burn, you are relying on a chimney to vent for that system. If it is not properly cleaned, there is residue from all fuel sources that are dangerous and can only be removed when you get an annual chimney inspection and cleaning. It’s as simple as that.

Why Are There 3 Levels of Inspections?

Each level is determined by the chimney tech according to usage, changes in the system and circumstances as described below:

Level I Chimney Inspection – This is a basic inspection and is appropriate when no changes have been made or are planned to be made in your fireplace or chimney system. This is also the level conducted on your annual service visit. It is a visual inspection so no tools are used.

Level II Chimney Inspection – This starts as a visual inspection. However, when a change to the heating appliance is made or going to be made, or a transfer of property is going to take place, then a Level II inspection is required by codes. This level of inspection is also required when an event has taken place that could have caused damage to the chimney or fireplace. The technician will use hand tools to get access to the chimney through attics, basements or crawl spaces and use video cameras to view the inner workings of the appliance from top to bottom. A Level II Inspection will never remove or destroy any permanently attached portion of the chimney or structure.

Level III Chimney Inspection –This inspection can require tearing down the chimney system or appliance because a chimney system cannot be fixed and brought up to code or a chimney fire has taken place.. This will require special tools and access to concealed areas of the chimney and flue.

Isn’t It Expensive to have Your Chimney Inspected?

The reason we like you to be informed is so you will know that the cost of hiring a CSIA certified chimney sweep to do an annual chimney inspection is nothing when compared to the cost of potential loss of property and lives due to a house fire. The small annual investment reduces the danger of chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. Don’t you want the best in certified sweeps with the best comprehensive training to do the work? We believe you do! That’s why Santa’s Friend has invested in all our sweeps getting certified by CSIA. Each one has earned the industry’s most respected credentials by passing an intensive examination based on “fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimneys and venting system.” Even insurance investigators regularly rely on CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps to help determine whether a fire originated in – or damaged – the chimney system.

So contact us and set up an appointment to get your chimney inspected by the very best technicians in the chimney business and help us keep you family safe!